Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Lands and Natural Resources Division of Agriculture Grant Agreement Number: 15SCBGPMP0051 – Final Report Specialty Crop Block Grant Program — Farm Bill Final Performance Report Starting Date: September 30, 2015 PROGRAM MANAGER: Dr. Ignacio T. dela Cruz, D.V.M. Acting Director Division of Agriculture Saipan, MP 96950 Work: (670) 256-3319 Cell: (670) -285-8525 Email:
[email protected] PROJECT COORDINATOR: Mr. Joshua C. Santos Division of Agriculture Saipan, MP 96950 Work: (670) 256-3319 Cell: (670) 287-2980 Email: josh0196@gmail 1 Project One: Seed Trials and Soil Testing on Farm Sites Project Summary Availability of specialty crop seeds is a major problem in the CNMI. Although some of these seeds are being sold at Taro Sue Store in Garapan and Ace Hardware at several locations on Saipan, the seeds are limited in numbers and varieties. Thus, varieties of SC seeds were imported from the University of Hawaii's Agricultural Experiment Station to be planted and tested for yield, plant health and vigor, product quality, as well as resistance to plant pests and diseases. Most of the seeds were distributed to farmers utilizing government owned commercial farm plots in Kagman. Soil samples from various farm sites were sent to the University of Hawaii for a battery of tests, including pH, nutrient content or quality, presence of toxic chemicals or residues, physical properties, etc. Test results were to be made available to participating farmers with proper recommendations on how to improve their particular soils for the type of SC to be grown. Soil testing for the presence of nematodes and the identification of the type of species present was also to be undertaken.